Samantha Ettus2015-03-31T17:17:24Zhttp://www.samanthaettus.com/feed/atom/WordPressjoshua@relatedmedia.comhttp://www.samanthaettus.com/?p=15182015-03-05T21:06:35Z2015-01-27T03:24:01ZMost lists of motivational quotes are dominated by the counsel of men, and it certainly isn't because women lack words of wisdom. So, I curated a list of my favorite quotes -- from luminaries living and dead, activists and athletes, authors and actors, leaders and lovers -- all women. Each of these is powerful in its own right; together, they form a motivational stew, encouraging you to seize life and sprint towards success.

1. "If I stop to kick every barking dog I am not going to get where I'm going." - Jackie Joyner-Kersee

2. "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement." - Helen Keller

3. "You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness." - Diane von Furstenberg

]]>Most lists of motivational quotes are dominated by the counsel of men, and it certainly isn’t because women lack words of wisdom. So, I curated a list of my favorite quotes — from luminaries living and dead, activists and athletes, authors and actors, leaders and lovers — all women. Each of these is powerful in its own right; together, they form a motivational stew, encouraging you to seize life and sprint towards success.

1. “If I stop to kick every barking dog I am not going to get where I’m going.” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee

2. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” – Helen Keller

3. “You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.” – Diane von Furstenberg

4. “I was smart enough to go through any door that opened.” – Joan Rivers

5. “Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputations can never effect a reform.” – Susan B. Anthony

]]>0devChrishttp://www.samanthaettus.com/?p=14882015-03-30T21:57:56Z2014-12-10T19:12:50ZWe thrive from the consistency and efficiency of routines; they reduce our deliberation and in turn, our stress. So it is no wonder that these 12 extraordinary women adhere to strict ones.

Each of these women is at the top of her industry. On average she wakes up at 6:03am, she prioritizes breakfast, and dedicates much of the morning to getting her kids up and out. Two of the women here are childless so their wake up times are significantly later. And then there are the empty nesters who tend to wake early as a remnant of the kid years.

While each of their approaches differs, these successful women all view their daily routines in small...

]]>We thrive from the consistency and efficiency of routines; they reduce our deliberation and in turn, our stress. So it is no wonder that these 12 extraordinary women adhere to strict ones.

Each of these women is at the top of her industry. On average she wakes up at 6:03am, she prioritizes breakfast, and dedicates much of the morning to getting her kids up and out. Two of the women here are childless so their wake up times are significantly later. And then there are the empty nesters who tend to wake early as a remnant of the kid years.

While each of their approaches differs, these successful women all view their daily routines in small increments to keep them on track and thriving. Whether it’s the designer, the doctor, the CFO or the media mogul, their morning rituals are a vital ingredient in their secret sauce.

]]>0devChrishttp://www.samanthaettus.com/?p=14482015-03-30T22:10:58Z2014-07-18T20:13:46ZI am sure that PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has some fantastic lessons on leadership that we could all benefit from. She could teach us about managing boards and shareholders and telling a story through the press. But when it comes to parenting, I suspect Nooyi could learn a lot from other people who organized their time and their life commitments differently.

Nooyi may be a fantastic mom, but when we're asking her, Anne-Marie Slaughter and other world-class, high-achieving executives how the whole parenting thing is going, is it a surprise that we aren't getting anywhere?

]]>I am sure that PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has some fantastic lessons on leadership that we could all benefit from. She could teach us about managing boards and shareholders and telling a story through the press. But when it comes to parenting, I suspect Nooyi could learn a lot from other people who organized their time and their life commitments differently.

Nooyi may be a fantastic mom, but when we’re asking her, Anne-Marie Slaughter and other world-class, high-achieving executives how the whole parenting thing is going, is it a surprise that we aren’t getting anywhere?

It’s time to shift the work/life dialogue in four steps:

1. Change the standards

As women, we love to measure ourselves. Our dress size, our happiness, and the accomplishments of our children compared to those of our friends. So it is no surprise that we cling to the latest measurement fad…”Do we have it all”?

Not a single one of the current 6 billion people on earth has achieved this goal du jour. Neither Jennifer Aniston nor Barack Obama nor the stay at home mom with 2.5 kids nor the career woman forced to miss both her son’s school play and her daughter’s T Ball game in the same week. None of these parents, and none of you, can honestly answer yes.

So if we can’t point to anyone who “has it all,” why are we all measuring ourselves on this preposterous yardstick? Let’s leave it behind. And while we are at it, let’s get rid of juggling and leave that to circus professionals.

]]>0devChrishttp://www.samanthaettus.com/?p=14312015-03-30T22:15:06Z2014-06-19T15:47:13ZNo matter what your role or where you are performing it, you can shine – anywhere. Regardless of where on the totem pole you start, true talent will rise to the top. Here are 7 ways to emerge from the crowd:

1. Seize Your Opportunity
I will never forget the disappointment of asking my favorite intern if she had fun plans for the summer. Before then we had only exchanged cheerful thank yous and hellos. This was the first personal question I had asked her.

Her response was: "No. But maybe something will turn up." This was not what I had expected from the intern who had stood out for her positive attitude and it certainly...

]]>No matter what your role or where you are performing it, you can shine – anywhere. Regardless of where on the totem pole you start, true talent will rise to the top. Here are 7 ways to emerge from the crowd:

1. Seize Your Opportunity
I will never forget the disappointment of asking my favorite intern if she had fun plans for the summer. Before then we had only exchanged cheerful thank yous and hellos. This was the first personal question I had asked her.

Her response was: “No. But maybe something will turn up.” This was not what I had expected from the intern who had stood out for her positive attitude and it certainly didn’t make me want to ask more. When the boss engages you, bring your A game.

2. Be a Great Listener
If I asked you to think of a great talker, it would take just seconds to come up with a name, but if I asked you to name a great listener, it would probably take you longer. Career expert Tory Johnson explains that often the people who get her attention are those who “Pay attention to what others have to say and acknowledge that they hear them.” Avoid the temptation to flex about what you do know. Instead, listen for what you don’t.

]]>0devChrishttp://www.samanthaettus.com/?p=13692015-03-30T22:19:20Z2014-04-10T18:43:06ZWe tend to get overwhelmed by change because when we think of making changes we think big. Moving, marrying, divorcing, becoming a parent, career transitioning. But often the most effective change comes in smaller forms. It is seemingly minor lifestyle changes that can lead to improved outlook, focus and success.

Embrace three of these 19 ways to make improvements today and watch as subtle change rolls in and makes a not-so-subtle impact:

Stay Away From TGIFers
Anyone with a negative attitude will bring you down. Don’t be one and don’t hang with one.

]]>We tend to get overwhelmed by change because when we think of making changes we think big. Moving, marrying, divorcing, becoming a parent, career transitioning. But often the most effective change comes in smaller forms. It is seemingly minor lifestyle changes that can lead to improved outlook, focus and success.

Embrace three of these 19 ways to make improvements today and watch as subtle change rolls in and makes a not-so-subtle impact:

Stay Away From TGIFers
Anyone with a negative attitude will bring you down. Don’t be one and don’t hang with one.

Remember That You Can Shine Anywhere
If you feel stuck – in a job or a business, aim to exceed all expectations. Talent rises to the top, so make it your business to shine.

Turn Off When You Are Off
When you are with your family or friends, turn off your technology and be present. Figuratively and literally, if the phone is on the table, you are not at the table.

Dress as Though Today is a Day to Remember
Our day tends to rise to our expectations of it.

]]>0joshua@relatedmedia.comhttp://www.samanthaettus.com/?p=13602015-03-30T22:17:55Z2014-01-24T18:59:16ZThe dirty little secret about expectations is that whether internal or external, we tend to meet the expectations set for us.

I love the story of Minnesota educator, Lois Beckel. When asked what the “magic” was in getting a group of toddlers to nap together on mats at the same time, she explained, “We hold out the expectation that they will.”

When I spoke with Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders about the role of expectations in her gold medal career, she said, “I knew that to become an Olympian, I had to expect a high level of performance and dedication from myself, and it was those expectations that motivated me through years of training to achieve my dream.”

]]>The dirty little secret about expectations is that whether internal or external, we tend to meet the expectations set for us.

I love the story of Minnesota educator, Lois Beckel. When asked what the “magic” was in getting a group of toddlers to nap together on mats at the same time, she explained, “We hold out the expectation that they will.”

When I spoke with Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders about the role of expectations in her gold medal career, she said, “I knew that to become an Olympian, I had to expect a high level of performance and dedication from myself, and it was those expectations that motivated me through years of training to achieve my dream.”

Expectations don’t only impact results at work, they play a critical role on the home front too. Many women strive for healthy work life management yet find that their partners consistently fall short when it comes to sharing the housework and the childcare. While some of this is predetermined based on the personalities and the models these men were raised with, much of it comes down to their wives’ behavior. The women in these scenarios are afflicting their spouses with low expectations.

Last week family friends came for a visit and arrived in separate cars. The dad left first and mentioned that he would be stopping at the supermarket to pick up milk on the way home. “Do you want me to get the rest of your list too?” he asked his wife. “Oh no, that would be such a pain for you.” she replied.
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If we expect so little of our spouses, how can we blame them when they fall short in their contributions?

If your son was in the room, you wouldn’t dare say, “Aiden would never eat broccoli.” Because then he never would. Why then do so many women say, “My husband would never change a diaper.” It practically guarantees that he won’t.

Many women approach me to say how lucky I am that my husband helps out so much. My expectation upon meeting him was that he would be a true partner and he has met that expectation. He has similarly high expectations of me. Luck has little to do with it.

As a junior athlete playing competitive tennis, I was trained to always have high expectations. It meant that if I was playing an opponent who was better than me, I wouldn’t dream of going on the court without expecting to win. We were taught that a champion says, “I will win.” Never, “I might win.”

When I asked Memphis Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien about the role of expectations in his organization, he said, “Setting high expectations has been a critical part of establishing our culture. They define our direction and create a sense of urgency around our mission.”

At the office, on the court, at home and even in health, expectations have an impact. In a recent study of patients receiving acupuncture for chronic illnesses, the treatment of those with high expectations of the results experienced significantly better outcomes than those with lower expectations.

So whether it is yourself, your team or your partner, you have more power than you might think in changing the outcome. Aim high and achieve higher.

]]>0devChrishttp://www.workingmomslifestyle.com/?p=12532013-11-13T21:20:02Z2013-11-13T21:20:02ZThese 25 women have been selected for our list because they have reached the top of their fields and they share their experience and their lives in raw form through multiple daily tweets. They are prolific, personal and inspiring – all have children and demanding careers.

Today, most moms are working moms and more than 40% of moms are the primary breadwinners in their families – a number that has quadrupled since 1960. The media has not yet caught up with this reality.

If you type the term “working mom” into Google images you will see photo after photo of women balancing briefcases and babies at the same time. Yet rather than juggle...

]]>These 25 women have been selected for our list because they have reached the top of their fields and they share their experience and their lives in raw form through multiple daily tweets. They are prolific, personal and inspiring – all have children and demanding careers.

If you type the term “working mom” into Google images you will see photo after photo of women balancing briefcases and babies at the same time. Yet rather than juggle her responsibilities simultaneously, a real working mom goes back and forth between her various priorities in a seesaw like fashion.

There is no better venue for witnessing this than on Twitter, a social network offering real time information, ideal for working moms on the go.

Whether you are seeking career inspiration or just a little motivation for your daily seesaw, here are 25 working moms to follow. I asked each of them for a bit of inspiration and here is what they had to say:

During her TODAY Show tenure, Couric suffered a deep loss on a national stage, and she has captured the hearts of a nation of viewers since. Years later, she still commands the spotlight. Tune in for prolific news and pop culture tweets with a side of Katie: @katiecouric

2. Jennifer Weiner

Bestselling novelist Weiner writes guilty pleasure beach reads, fights for her fellow female authors and still makes time for reality TV commentary. Tune in for hilarious shards of brilliance: @jenniferweiner

3. Kerri Walsh Jennings

Follow Walsh’s journey as a three time gold medalist and mom of three as she goes for the gold again in 2016. Tune in for inspiration and contagious enthusiasm: @kerrileewalsh

4. Lisa Ling

Producer, journalist and TV Host, Ling is a new mom who tirelessly advocates for women and girls. Tune in for thoughtful political and social commentary – on topics ranging from sex trafficking to Starbucks: @lisaling

5. Gayle King

Now the CBS morning show anchor, King is proof that a working mom is powerful well into her children’s adult years. Tune in for high-energy fun – and a smidgen of BFF Oprah in the mix: @GayleKing

Real estate tycoon Corcoran has reinvented her career as the host of Shark Tank, and is arguably the most recognizable face in entrepreneurship. Tune in for business cheerleading: @BarbaraCorcoran

9. Alison Brod

An unstoppable force in PR, Brod and her more than 60 employee firm represent Fortune 500 companies along with the hottest names in fashion. Tune in for access to her trademark unapologetic opinions: @AlisonBrodPR

10. Randi Zuckerberg

Having recently flown the Facebook family coup, new mom Zuckerberg is making a name for herself as an entrepreneur and social media leader. Tune in for tech and lifestyle know-how: @randizuckerberg

A Wall Street icon, Krawcheck recently shifted her focus to women’s networking with the purchase of 85 Broads. Tune in for curated women in business news and pointed commentary: @SallieKrawcheck

13. Susan Orlean

Writer Orlean has an unfair advantage – it is as though Twitter was designed specifically for her talent for pithy wisdom. Tune in for addictive life commentary with an oddball twist: @susanorlean

14. Suzy Welch

A huge career as editor in chief of the Harvard Business Review and four kids later, Welch has enjoyed a second life as a bestselling author and the other half of Jack Welch. Tune in for sarcasm, candor, and her business perspective: @SuzyWelch

15. Liz Lange

Having put maternity fashion on the map. Lange has become an inspiring business leader and remains one of the most approachable big names on Twitter. Tune in for entrepreneurship and style without snobbery: @lizlange

16. Elisabeth Rohm

Most recognizable from her days on Law and Order, Rohm singlehandedly defies the actress stereotype. Sharp, witty and down to earth, Rohm added author to her job title with her parenting book – Baby Steps. Tune in for fresh perspective: @ElisabethRohm

17. Martha Beck

As a bestselling author and Oprah’s favorite life coach, Beck has a riveting personal and professional history and an EQ that is off the charts. Tune in for deep thoughts: @MarthaBeck

18. Alyssa Milano

An early adopter of Twitter, Milano is the boss of this platform and a prolific sharer. Tune in for her highly caffeinated yet filled to the brim with information tweets: @Alyssa_Milano

19. Michelle Rhee

Made famous by the documentary, Waiting for Superman and a subsequent Time magazine cover, Rhee is a deeply passionate and controversial education reformer. Tune in for education and parenting tweets: @MichelleRhee

20. Lisa Stone

Founder of BlogHer and one of the hardest working entrepreneurs, Stone is at the intersection of Venture Capital, brands and media. Tune in for tech and media savvy: @LisaStone

21. Brooke Burke-Charvet

Host of Dancing with the Stars and CEO of Modern Mom, Burke-Charvet tells it like it is. Tune in for a sneak peek backstage to her life as a TV star and mom of four: @brookeburke

22. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

The lawyer turned Congresswoman turned Senator of New York and mom of two is bright, unafraid and always charging forward. Tune in for politics and news: @SenGillibrand

23. Holly Robinson Peete

Social Activist, Apprentice runner up, actress and NFL wife, Peete has taken the Twitosphere by storm. Tune in for straight shooting talk – sports, autism and a window into her world: @hollyrpeete

24. Liz Gumbinner

An advertising executive and co-founder of wildly popular Cool Mom Picks, Gumbinner is the belle of the moms’ ball. Tune in for razor sharp writing with an abundance of self-deprecation: @Mom101

There might be no better role model for women in tech than Warrior, Head of Technology and Strategy for Cisco and mother of a grown son. Tune in for technology, innovation and women in science: @Padmasree

]]>0SE-adminhttp://www.workingmomslifestyle.com/?p=12302013-10-02T17:30:05Z2013-10-02T17:30:05ZI grew up in New York City on the 26th floor of an apartment building, so it probably isn’t too surprising that I am happiest indoors. But I don’t wish this for my daughters. I don’t want them to inherit my bug phobias, my outdoor anxiety and my fear of going a day without a […]

]]>I grew up in New York City on the 26th floor of an apartment building, so it probably isn’t too surprising that I am happiest indoors. But I don’t wish this for my daughters. I don’t want them to inherit my bug phobias, my outdoor anxiety and my fear of going a day without a shower. It helps that I have a happiest-in-the-outdoors husband, but to get my girls to love the outdoors, I have learned that I need to play a role, too.

We tend to associate outdoor play with boys, which can lead our girls towards all sorts of confidence and leadership weaknesses. Unfortunately, in my family where Dad loves the outdoors and Mom does not, we fit that stereotype and need to work extra hard to break it.

Here are 12 ways we have found to get our girls comfortable, confident, and happy in the outdoors.

Encourage Her to Get Dirty
Support your daughter’s outdoor comfort by giving her space to get dirty, to play in the mud and step in a puddle. If she isn’t comfortable getting dirty, she will never be fully comfortable outdoors. Applaud her for digging in!

Teach Her the Basics
Every young child, girl or boy, should learn how to throw and catch a ball. Arriving in school gym class without knowing can have a ripple effect when it comes to athletic confidence. An additional perk: Playing catch is a great bonding activity. Work on shooting hoops next.

Watch the Sunset, See the Stars
Bring her outside as often as possible to watch the sunset, and later at night to appreciate the stars. Talk about the colors, the patterns, the lines. Try cuddling up with a book for special outdoor bedtime reading. Once she gains an appreciation for the sun and the stars, she can enjoy them forever.

Climb a Tree
Show her how strong her body is by teaching her to climb a tree. Here are some tree climbing safety guidelines. Once you follow those, limit the tendency to hover with “Be careful,” and replace it with “Look how strong you are!”

Let Her Explore
The magic of the outdoors is that it is always changing. Give her time and space to explore; to collect leaves, catch a bug, or draw her name in the dirt with a stick. The more rope she has to explore in the outdoors, the more likely she is to fall in love with it.

Teach Her to Fly a Kite
Learning to fly a kite is a lifelong activity involving laughing and fun. Take her to the beach and work on it until she can get hers airborne. Here is a helpful video to check out before you begin.

Visit a Farm
Getting her acquainted with a farm is a great way to find a love of nature and the outdoors as well as have your kids appreciate fruits and vegetables. Find one in your area that welcomes children.

Get Adventurous
If you scream “eww” at the site of a sea creature, animal, or bug, chances are that she will, too. I remember a time when we were on vacation and my daughters found a lizard. My younger daughter picked it up and let it crawl up her arm. Boys walked by and they were terrified. Not only were the girls enjoying this, but the boys gained a new respect for them too. So if you are at all phobic or averse, stifle your inner voice on this one and encourage her to explore nature; to touch, feel and immerse herself in it.

Go Boating
The land, the water, you want to make her feel like the natural world is her oyster. Get out in a boat and explore the smells, the water and the views. Go tubing, waterskiing, kayaking or fishing. Do the same with snow. Play in it, ski in it, and go sledding.

Have a Picnic
Given my indoor-centric childhood, when given the choice of dining outdoors or in, I choose the latter. I can’t remember a childhood picnic. Yet it doesn’t take much to get there. If you have a lawn, bring a blanket and turn it into a picnic spot. The local park works too!

Go Picking
Whether it is pumpkin picking, apple picking, or strawberry picking, there is no better family activity. Check out the best seasons for your chosen fruit or vegetable, find a great spot, and add family picking dates to your calendar.

Go Hiking
There is no better way to see what nature has to offer than to hike through it. As with any outdoor activity, make sure she is dressed for the part. Sneakers and shorts or sweatpants will allow her to navigate the terrain more easily.

]]>0SE-adminhttp://www.workingmomslifestyle.com/?p=12272013-10-02T17:28:31Z2013-10-02T17:28:31ZI left my house worried and rewinding. Had I remembered to leave the right notes for my husband? Had I given enough kisses to my kids on the way out? I paid little attention to the man who opened the door to the car that was waiting to take me to the airport for a […]

]]>I left my house worried and rewinding. Had I remembered to leave the right notes for my husband? Had I given enough kisses to my kids on the way out? I paid little attention to the man who opened the door to the car that was waiting to take me to the airport for a one night business trip.

As we drove from the familiar streets to the less familiar, I looked down, on autopilot, as I tend to do these days. I began my mindless rotation: email checking, texts, Facebook business page, Twitter, Facebook personal, Instagram and then as I was on my way to lap back for another tour, I looked up at the taxi driver as I used to in the time before I was tied to my smartphone.

He was dressed in a suit and possessed a quiet confidence. I asked him where he was from. “Rwanda.” How did you end up here? “I won the green card lottery.” At that moment I knew that I had won too – this man would turn out to teach me more than I could ever learn scouring my newsfeed on the web. And far more than I had learned studying Africa as a college anthropology student.

He proceeded to tell me first hand about the 1994 Rwandan civil war that until now was as impersonal to me as any other war I have read about. He went on to talk to me about his wife, also Rwandan, and his kids, and how differently they are growing up in America. He used to send money back home to his relatives but he doesn’t anymore. “America makes you greedy,” he explained. Now he wants to make money for his children.

We talked about genocide and love and about how his country in which one million people died so recently, is now known as the most peaceful nation in Africa. He explained that the peace stems from a generation that witnessed horror and do not want to return to that place. Peace is what remains.

We talked about how Tutsis and Hutus now live side by side seamlessly. They live, they love, they marry each other. “Love knows no boundaries,” he said, “look at Anthony Weiner and his wife, a Jew and an Arab.”

On Anthony and Huma he believes, “Forgiveness is good, but you can’t forgive forever.” On Syria, he said, “Nothing good could come of the US intervening.” When he sees what is happening in Syria, it reminds him of Rwanda in 1994.

At last I asked, “Are you Tutsi or Hutu?”

“It doesn’t matter.” he said softly. “That is the kind of thinking and talk that brought us to war in the first place. For years I battled with my father about this. And after years of arguing, I realized he was right. It doesn’t matter, so let’s not talk about it.”

I left and thanked him for a ride not just to the airport, but for giving me more than I could possibly pay for.

]]>0devChrishttp://www.workingmomslifestyle.com/?p=12212013-10-02T17:12:57Z2013-10-02T17:12:57ZYou make a damn good cupcake. Or maybe it is a chocolate chip cookie or a pecan pie. Then you dream. What if I turned this into a business? What if I change course to make sweet treats all day? Candace Nelson did just that. In 2005 Candace left her career as an investment banker to […]

]]>You make a damn good cupcake. Or maybe it is a chocolate chip cookie or a pecan pie. Then you dream. What if I turned this into a business? What if I change course to make sweet treats all day? Candace Nelson did just that.

In 2005 Candace left her career as an investment banker to open the world’s first ever dedicated cupcake store along with her husband, Charles. Together they have been growing Sprinkles Cupcakes and their family ever since with two boys, ages 6 and 2, and 12 stores. In addition to her life as a mom and entrepreneur, Candace stars as a judge on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” Here, she shares a peek into her life as a working mom.

How was the transition from banking to baking?A relief! But gradual. I left banking to work for a dot com and when the bottom fell out from that world, I decided to follow my passion and attend pastry school. The rest is history.

What is the best part of being a working mom? Feeling that I am doing what I was meant to do and being an example to my children.

When you have a problem, where do you turn for support?My husband is and has always been my complete support system. He doles out advice Dr. Phil-style. He is amazing.

How do your kids perceive your career?Are you kidding? Ice cream and cupcakes. And they get to go to Sprinkles through the back door? They love it!

What is a typical morning like for you?It’s a scramble. But preparing lunches, backpacks and to-do lists the night before is always a lifesaver.

How often do your kids eat cupcakes?For my kids, the cupcakes and cookies and ice cream are still a treat. How else can I bribe good behavior?

And you?I eat them a few times a week, though during a store opening or recipe development it is about every five minutes.

Can you name a favorite?It changes by the week, but I have eaten a ridiculous number of dark chocolate cupcakes.